Analysis rejects link between hormone therapy and breast cancerThe association between hormone replacement therapy and breast cancer is not strong enough to confirm that HRT causes breast cancer, researchers in South Africa say. The research team re-examined data from three large studies that linked hormone therapy after menopause to higher risk of breast cancer and compared changes in breast cancer rates with changes in HRT use. The fluctuations in breast cancer rates did not correspond to changes in HRT use, the researchers report in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. HealthDay News
(3/15)

Pancreatic cancer patients show higher diabetes ratesData on 500 cancer patients showed that those with pancreatic cancer had a higher prevalence of new-onset diabetes compared with cancer-free controls and patients with other forms of cancer. "Our results lend further credence to the hypothesis that new-onset DM is indeed unique to PaC and is relatively uncommon in other patients with cancers and those without cancer, suggesting that it is not merely a reflection of an increased risk of PaC in patients with DM, but rather an early manifestation of the cancer," researchers wrote in the journal Pancreas. Healio
(3/13)

Certain mothers at greater risk for postpartum depressionThe likelihood of suffering from postpartum depression was higher among women who were single, younger, publicly insured, African-American and of lower educational attainment, a study showed. Researchers screened 10,000 mothers and found that 40% of those who reported postpartum depression had it after childbirth, while 33% and 26.5% experienced depression during pregnancy and before pregnancy, respectively. The findings appear in the journal JAMA Psychiatry. DailyRx.com
(3/13)

Risk of mild brain injuries is higher in some young menResearchers followed more than 300,000 young men conscripted for military service in Sweden for an average of 19 years and found that those with poor mental ability and lower socioeconomic status were at greater risk for mild traumatic brain injuries. The study published in the journal BMJ showed that the most frequently reported causes of such injuries were falling, assault and traffic accidents. HealthDay News
(3/13)

Study touts resistance training for older patients with diabetesProgressive resistance training improved insulin resistance and glucose control among older patients with type 2 diabetes, according to a study of 103 adults published on the website of Diabetes Care. "We saw improvements in metabolic health similar to those seen with the addition of a second diabetic medication," lead researcher Yorgi Mavros said. Previous studies have shown that a combination of aerobic exercise and resistance training yields the best outcomes. Medscape (free registration)
(3/13)

FDA reviews new diabetes drugs to assess cancer riskRecently approved diabetes drugs -- including Merck & Co.'s Januvia and Janumet, Novo Nordisk's Victoza and Bristol-Myers Squibb's Byetta and Bydureon -- are under FDA scrutiny as pancreatic tissue samples in patients who took the medications showed inflammation and cellular changes associated with cancer onset. "FDA has not concluded these drugs may cause or contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer. At this time, patients should continue to take their medicine as directed until they talk to their health care professional," the agency said. The Monterey County Herald (Calif.)/The Associated Press
(3/14), The Wall Street Journal
(3/15)

Study: Clot-busting drug OK for stroke patients on mild anticoagulantsGiving tissue plasminogen activator to patients suffering a stroke who have been taking aspirin or the blood thinner clopidogrel is not likely to cause fatal brain bleeding, a study published in the journal Academic Emergency Medicine found. Researchers examined data from more than 800 tPA-treated stroke patients and found no significant difference in the brain bleeding rate between patients who were taking aspirin or clopidogrel and those who were not taking either drug. The findings might not apply to patients taking warfarin, heparin, dabigatran or rivaroxaban, the researchers noted. HealthDay News
(3/14)

Neurologists warn against giving ADHD drugs to healthy youthsGiving healthy children and teens attention- or mood-enhancing drugs to improve their mental performance cannot be justified, for both legal and developmental reasons, the American Academy of Neurology said in a position statement in the journal Neurology. "What we're saying is that because of the volume of drugs and the incredible increase ... the possibility of overdiagnosis and overtreatment is clearly there," lead author Dr. William Graf said. Reuters
(3/13), USA Today
(3/13)

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Poll shows consumers' concerns over health data securitySeventy-three percent of consumers said they would be very or somewhat concerned if a health care provider accessed their medical data using a personal mobile device, according to a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers' Health Research Institute. Five percent of respondents said they would not be at all concerned, and 18% were neutral on the issue. BeckersHospitalReview.com
(3/13)

Continuing education free to AANP MembersThe CE Center currently has more than 100 active programs including topics on professional issues, acute and chronic illnesses, and health promotion to enhance the knowledge and skills of NPs, as well as help meet the CE requirements for licensure and certification. We encourage you to check the CE Center often for recent additions.